"I'd been planning to do it at some point anyway," Whitney told Outsports, "and seeing the reaction to Conner's story calmed me down."

Last week when the baseball team gathered for the first practices of the new year, talk turned to stories from winter break. Because he'd spent much of the break with Mertens, Whitney felt the time was now. He stood up in front of the team, said he had contemplated whether to tell them a secret or not, and shared a "confession" he'd been holding back from them since they first met:

"I'm gay."

The team broke into spontaneous applause. It took Whitney off-guard.

"Being where I am in eastern Washington, it's not the response I expected. I'm in Walla Walla, there's not a lot of open-mindedness on the surface."

....

"I didn't necessarily expect hostility, but I expected a guy or two to feel uncomfortable or awkward. Everyone on the team shook my hand, gave me a hug and said we're a family and they had my back. The guys I thought would feel the most uncomfortable said don't worry about a thing, it's not a big deal."

Big congrats to Chandler (and Conner) for coming out! And we've also got to applaud his teammates for being open-minded and accepting!

It's great to see and it must be a comfort for many athletes that are considering coming out.

It's been my experience that guys who announce that they are 'coming out' because 'they like dudes' are not bi at all, just scared to fully admit being gay. Sadly it makes the poor kid sound undereducated by calling himself bi because he likes dudes. When I was young and figuring things out I actually made use of the dictionary. More of our youth should do the same. (And quite a few adults as well!)

When I read this article (on my iPhone) last night it said that he was gay. By the time I got to it on my computer today where I could more easily comment, you'd changed it to say he's bi. I'd just like to say, thank you for fixing it when the mistake was pointed out. Not nearly enough people do that.

Please edit this article. Mertens came out as bisexual. Bisexual is NOT gay. This type of inaccurate journalism marginalizes bisexual people. We bisexual people have a higher suicide rate than our gay peers and are far less likely to come out due to the fact that few people accept or understand us. We are our own distinct orientation and are not to be lumped in with the gays (no offense to gay people).

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Well sure. Just as soon as you keep being straight to yourself. You know, like, don't talk about your significant other, and never openly admire the opposite gender. Only do that in private, where no one can know. Why should you wave your heterosexuality in the faces of gays?

Like most of the comments below why keeps yourself anonymous are you afraid that you are gay and just want to be a smart ass and play with peoples emotions? or afraid of what people might do to you? either way your comments need to be keep to yourself. People are aloud to do what they want! You must be from Westboro Baptist Church..... those stupid can just fall off the face of the earth and everyone would be better, with their cult family values.

It is most people with "anonymous" comments, as this, we one day find in the news being charged with child molestation charges, wife beating, parent abuse, etc.... its part of their ritual of cleansing themselves by chastising others... do yourself a favor and just turn yourself in before anyone gets hurt... thank you.... :) Peace out... :)

It's a great thing when young people can come out and not have negative consequences. Things have really changed. I am very happy for them. Hopefully, this will start a trend, and society will start changing more quickly.

Now all we need to do is convince Congress that we need protection in the workplace, and we will have it made.

Just because it's a smaller college doesn't make it better or worse. Who cares what size the college is? That's not the point. The point IS he came out and was accepted, then his boyfriend, who goes to a different school came out, and they announced they were together. Why not be happy for them? I am. I sure as hell wish I could have came out in school and at that age! I'm happy for the couple. And why are some of you so negative? Maybe because your hot happy with yourselves? I know a LOT of gay guys who can't stand to see 2 people having a relationship and being happy in it and some of the time they try and sabotage it. Why....because they're so miserable they can't be happy for anyone else. Get over it already. These are great young, athletic men who will be able to help others come out, and one's who will give the one's who are being bullied somebody to look up to!

Cudos to both of them, But didn't Connor say he was bi? Isn't it about time we quit with the false binary and accepted the spectrum shown by the research of people like Kinsey, klein, and epstein. Im almost at 30 years in my bi phase!

- tears- of JOY here for them both . . . . times have changed. Love ya both and and me to the I have your back crew. I am a ice hockey player. This action should encourage many more to do the same. Thank you for taking one more sledgehammer blow to "the Closet" !

Willamette University is in Salem, Oregon, directly across the street from the State Capitol. It's routinely ranked in the top 10 of small US universities. Missed details like this reduce the credibility of Instinct and future stories it prints.